Separation of surfactant functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes via free solution electrophoresis method

This work presents the application of the free solution electrophoresis method (FSE) in the metallic / semiconductive (M/S) separation process of the surfactant functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). The SWCNTs synthesized via laser ablation were purified through high vacuum annealing and subsequent refluxing processes in aqua regia solution. The purified and annealed material was divided into six batches. First three batches were dispersed in anionic surfactants: sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sodium cholate (SC) and sodium deoxycholate (DOC). The next three batches were dispersed in cationic surfactants: cetrimonium bromide (CTAB), benzalkonium chloride (BKC) and cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC). All the prepared SWCNTs samples were subjected to FSE separation process. The fractionated samples were recovered from control and electrode areas and annealed in order to remove the adsorbed surfactants on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) surface. The changes of the van Hove singularities (vHS) present in SWCNTs spectra were investigated via UV-Vis-NIR optical absorption spectroscopy (OAS).     

Mechanism of single-walled carbon nanotube growth on natural magnesite

Fe K-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) measurements were performed in order to elucidate the formation mechanism of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) grown on natural magnesite by pyrolyzing methane gas. It was clearly shown by XAFS analyses that iron metal fine particles, which were reduced from iron oxides by methane gas, worked as a catalyst for SWCNT growth. Structural characteristics of the initial iron state in the natural magnesite were also discussed.     

磁场对单壁碳纳米管电子结构和光学性质的影响

采用半经验的模型、用单激发组态相互作用方法计算并讨论了外加轴向磁场对单壁碳纳米管电子结构和光学性质的影响。由于电子电子间相互作用的影响,磁场导致碳纳米管吸收峰能级分裂与磁场不成正比。该结果与简单的能带理论所给出的结果在低磁场情况下有本质的区别,并与实验结果有更高的符合度。该研究进一步证明了电子电子间相互作用以及激子在决定碳纳米管电子结构和光学性质中的重要作用。     

磁场对单壁碳纳米管电子结构和光学性质的影响

我们采用半经验的模型、用单激发组态相互作用方法计算并讨论了外加轴向磁场对单壁碳纳米管电子结构和光学性质的影响。由于电子电子间相互作用的影响，磁场导致碳纳米管吸收峰能级分裂与磁场不成正比。该结果与简单的能带理论所给出的结果在低磁场情况下有本质的区别，并与实验结果有更高的符合度。该研究进一步证明了电子电子间相互作用以及激子在决定碳纳米管电子结构和光学性质中的重要作用。     

Effect of hydrogenation on the spectra of electronic and vibrational transitions in single-walled carbon nanotubes

Single-walled carbon nanotubes containing 5.4 wt% H are prepared under a hydrogen pressure of 50 kbar at the temperature T = 500°C. Analysis of the optical transmission spectra has revealed that the hydrogenation of single-walled carbon nanotubes brings about suppression of high-frequency conduction provided by free charge carriers in the nanotubes, the disappearance of interband electronic transitions, and the appearance of an absorption line at 2845 cm^?1 corresponding to stretching vibrations of the C-H bonds. The removal of hydrogen from hydrogenated single-walled carbon nanotubes owing to vacuum annealing at a temperature of 500°C is accompanied by a linear decrease in the intensity of this line as the hydrogen content in the system decreases. This phenomenon indicates that the greater part of the hydrogen atoms in single-walled carbon nanotubes are covalently bonded to the carbon atoms.     

Novel approach to tailoring the electronic properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes by the encapsulation of high-melting gallium selenide using a single-step process

A single-step method of filling the channels of single-walled carbon nanotubes with the melt of refractory GaSe is proposed and successfully implemented. The filled nanotubes are investigated by optical absorption spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It is found that charge transfer from the nanotube walls to embedded GaSe accompanied by lowering of the Fermi level in nanotubes occurs in the obtained nanocomposite; i.e., acceptor doping of nanotubes takes place.     

Purification and fractionation of single-walled carbon nanotubes

This study presents the approach to the purification and subsequent metallic/semiconductive (M/S) fractionation of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with diameter from 1.04 to 1.60 nm produced via laser ablation. SWCNTs were purified through 3-fold refluxing processes in nitric acid followed by the multiple washings with sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid. The purified-annealed SWCNTs sample was divided into seven batches. One batch was dispersed in acetone as a reference sample. Each of the remaining batches were dispersed in one of the following surface agents: sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium cholate acid (SCA), sodium deoxycholate, cetrimonium bromide, cetylpyridinium chloride, and benzalkonium chloride (BKC). SWCNT suspensions were fractionated via free solution electrophoresis technique. The recovered fractions from electrode and control areas were analyzed via optical absorption spectroscopy in UV–Vis–NIR range to evaluate the efficiency of the separation process. Raman spectroscopy was applied to analyze the purity of the samples. The catalyst content was estimated by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The morphology of the investigated samples was observed via high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. This contribution clearly shows that among the investigated surfactants there are two promising candidates (SCA and BKC) which can efficiently enrich the bulk sample in one electronic type of carbon nanotubes when FSE is applied.     

A facile and efficient gas phase process for purifying single-walled carbon nanotubes

Reproducible, low loss and high-yield purification process for single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) was developed by coupling of oxidation in wet air and treatment with gas phase nitric acid. Oxidation in wet air can burn out the carbonaceous particles and gas phase nitric acid treatment can etch away the catalytic metals. The as-synthesized SWNTs and the purified SWNTs were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectrophotometer and thermal gravimetric analysis. It was shown that such a facile and controllable gas phase process for purifying SWNTs can lead to the minimal losses and minimal destruction of SWNTs, thus highly purified SWNTs without amorphous carbon and with very low metal content were obtained.     

Magneto-optical spectroscopy of carbon nanotubes

We review our recent optical experiments on single-walled carbon nanotubes in high magnetic fields. The data revealed magnetic-field-induced optical anisotropy as well as broadening, splittings, and shifts of interband absorption and photoluminescence peaks. Quantitative comparison with theoretical predictions based on the Aharonov–Bohm effect is presented.     

Anti-prismatic modifications of single-walled carbon nanotubes and their electronic properties: Regular adsorption of fluorine atoms on graphene surfaces of nanotubes

The regular adsorption of fluorine atoms on the surfaces of single-walled carbon nanotubes along their cylindrical axes leads to a modification of cylindrical carbon skeletons of these single-walled carbon nanotubes into carbon skeletons that have a nearly “anti-prismatic” shape (anti-prismatic modifications). In the faces of these modified single-walled carbon nanotubes, there can arise quasi-one-dimensional isolated carbon conjugated subsystems (tracks) with different structures. Model fragments of nanotubes of the (n, 0) type that contain up to 360 carbon atoms and their derivatives with regularly adsorbed fluorine atoms on the graphene surface have been calculated using the semiempirical PM3 method. It has been found that the main properties of the single-walled carbon nanotubes modified by the above method are determined by the character of the conjugation of the electrons in isolated carbon tracks, which is close to the character of the conjugation of the electrons in the initial single-walled carbon nanotubes.     

Non-covalent interaction of benzonitrile with single-walled carbon nanotubes

We have studied the interaction of benzonitrile with as-prepared and purified single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). As-prepared SWCNTs, when suspended in benzonitrile, lead to a red colored dispersion which contains fragments composed mostly of amorphous carbon and carbon-coated catalyst, thus suggesting that benzonitrile is a solvent that can be used as one step of the purification process. Optical spectroscopic data (infrared, Raman, absorption) showed that purified carbon nanotubes interact weakly with benzonitrile. These experimental results are confirmed by first principles calculations that predict a very weak adsorption process through π–π interaction instead of through the free electron pair of the nitrile.     

P掺杂硅纳米管电子结构与光学性质的研究

采用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理计算,研究了P掺杂对单壁扶手型硅纳米管电子结构和光学性质的影响.结果表明:经过P掺杂,单壁扶手型硅纳米管的能带结构从间接带隙变为直接带隙,其价带顶主要由Si-3p态电子构成,导带底主要由Si-3p态电子和Si-3s态电子共同决定;同时通过P掺杂,使单壁扶手型硅纳米管的禁带宽度变窄,导电性增强,吸收光谱产生红移.研究结果为硅纳米管在光电器件方面的应用提供了理论基础.     

Polarization dependence of the optical absorption of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Anisotropic optical absorption properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are determined from a vertically aligned SWNT film for 0.5-6 eV. Absorption peaks at 4.5 and 5.25 eV are found to exhibit remarkable polarization dependence and have relevance to optical properties of graphite. A method for determining a nematic order parameter for an aligned SWNT film based on the collinear absorption peak at 4.5 eV is presented, followed by the determination of the optical absorption cross section.     

Initial growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes on supported iron clusters: a molecular dynamics study

Molecular dynamics simulations were used to study the initial growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) on a supported iron cluster (Fe₅₀). Statistical analysis shows that the growth direction of SWNTs becomes more perpendicular to the substrate over time due to the weak interaction between carbon nanotube and the substrate. The diameter of the nanotube also increases with the simulation time and approaches the size of the supported iron cluster.     

Comparison of influence of incorporated 3d-, 4d- and 4f-metal chlorides on electronic properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes

In the present work, the channels of single-walled carbon nanotubes were filled with melts of ZnCl₂, CdCl₂, and TbCl₃ by a capillary method with subsequent slow cooling. The detailed study of electronic structure of filled nanotubes was performed using Raman, optical absorption, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The obtained data are in mutual agreement and it proves that the filling of carbon nanotube channels with all these salts leads to the charge transfer from nanotube walls to the incorporated compounds, thus acceptor doping of nanotubes takes place. It was found out that encapsulated terbium chloride has the largest influence on the electronic properties of carbon nanotubes.     

硼掺杂单壁碳纳米管吸附甲醛的电子结构和光学性能研究

应用基于第一性原理的密度泛函理论研究了硼原子取代掺杂的（8,0）碳纳米管吸附甲醛气体分子的束缚能、电子结构以及光吸收和反射性质.研究发现,硼原子掺杂的碳纳米管对甲醛气体具有较强的敏感性,其束缚能大大增加,电荷转移更加显著,吸收峰和反射峰增多,峰值减小,且在低能区发生蓝移现象,在能量约为172 eV处均出现一特征峰.对计算结果进行了讨论,期望利用硼掺杂碳管来制作检测甲醛的纳米传感器和光电器件. 关键词： 碳纳米管 甲醛 硼原子取代掺杂 光学性能     

Donor doping of single-walled carbon nanotubes by filling of channels with silver

The channels of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are filled with metallic silver. The synthesized nanocomposites are studied by Raman spectroscopy and optical absorption spectroscopy, and these data indicate a substantial modification of the electronic structure of the nanotubes upon their filling. Moreover, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows that the incorporation of the metal leads to a change in the work function of SWNTs due to the Fermi level upshift and to the transfer of an electron density from inserted nanoparticles to the nanotube walls. Thus, the filling of the channels with silver results in donor doping of the nanotubes.     

Absorption spectra of high purity metallic and semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotube thin films in a wide energy region

Absorption spectra of high purity metallic and semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes separated by the density-gradient ultracentrifugation method have been measured in the wide energy region from 1 meV to 5 eV. In the high purity metallic nanotube sample, a strong and broad absorption band has been observed at 0.06 eV. This observation suggests that the optical properties of even high purity metallic nanotube bundles cannot be explained by the simple Drude conduction model. We discuss the origin of these absorption bands for metallic and semiconducting nanotube samples by considering the existence of a small energy gap in metallic nanotube bundles and plasmon resonance.     

Luminescence decay and the absorption cross section of individual single-walled carbon nanotubes

The absorption cross section of highly luminescent individual single-walled carbon nanotubes is determined using time-resolved and cw luminescence spectroscopy. A mean value of approximately 1 x 10(-17) cm2 per carbon atom is obtained for (6,5) tubes excited at their second optical transition, and corroborated by single tube photothermal absorption measurements. Biexponential luminescence decays are systematically observed, with short and long lifetimes around 45 and 250 ps. This behavior is attributed to the band edge exciton fine structure with a dark level lying a few meV below a bright one.     

Observation of excitons in one-dimensional metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes

Excitons are generally believed not to exist in metals because of strong screening by free carriers. Here we demonstrate that excitonic states can in fact be produced in metallic systems of a one-dimensional character. Using metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes as a model system, we show both experimentally and theoretically that electron-hole pairs form tightly bound excitons. The exciton binding energy of 50 meV, deduced from optical absorption spectra of individual metallic nanotubes, significantly exceeds that of excitons in most bulk semiconductors and agrees well with ab initio theoretical predictions.